Campbell counts onCommonwealth Games

An injury-hit year means that 24-year-old James, whose parents live in Clydesdale, will not be competing at the Games in London this year.

However, after some extensive rehab and warm weather training this winter James is hoping that he will be able to improve ahead of the World Athletics Championships next year and, of course, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

James said: “I’ve had a problem with my rotator cuff.

“It was really painful at the start of June last year but I stupidly carried on until the middle of August.

“I had an operation and until March it looked really promising but I started to get a lot of pain again - it was almost a constant cycle which was really disappointing.

“In March of this year I did some warm weather training and only threw 40 metres (James’ Scottish record is over 80 metres) so after that I knew my season was basically finished.

“I was told that I needed another operation.

“It certainly wasn’t the 2012 that I had been hoping for.”

So while most athletes are now in the Olympic Village, James is now attending physio sessions and will be watching the javelin event at the Games which he insists is wide open.

“The biggest thing for me was not even getting the chance to qualify as the Olympic Trials because I was injured,” said James.

“When the team was announced I was pretty down.

“There were times when I thought that I wouldn’t be able to throw again but I’m over that now.

““The javelin competition at the Olympics is wide open so it would have been great to be part of it but because I’m not competing I’m still not sure whether or not I will watch it or not.”

Although missing out on the London Games was a disappointment for James, his age means that he will have one or indeed two opportunities to join a very select band of Clydesdale Olympians.

However, his focus now switches from London and the Olympics to Moscow and the World Championships next year and more importantly for him representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 when he could realise his dream of winning a medal for his country and improving his Scottish javelin record.

James added: “Because I have been injured it has helped me understand the technique of the sport better.

“I’m sure I will come back the better for it.

“The Commonwealth Games will be absolutely massive for everyone in Scotland and I’ll have to get used to throwing in the rain.

“It will be a massive opportunity for me and I’m really determined to do the best that I possibly can and win a medal.”